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Premier 15s player of the year Natasha Hunt misses out on RFU contract

By PA
Natasha Hunt co captain of Gloucester-Hartpury celebrates after their victory during the Women's Allianz Premier 15s Final. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England have named only one scrum-half among the 32 players contracted to the Rugby Football Union for at least the 2023-24 season.

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Lucy Packer is the solitary nine to feature, meaning Leanne Infante and Natasha Hunt have missed out in the agreement that covers salaries, match fees and arrangements for the 2025 World Cup.

Hunt was named Premier 15s player of the year after co-captaining Gloucester-Hartpury to last season’s title.

GB Rugby Sevens player Megan Jones, who also qualifies for Wales, is included in the 32 as she concentrates on a XVs career with the Red Roses.

Lydia Thompson, the wing sent off for a high tackle in last year’s World Cup final defeat by New Zealand, is also absent.

The contracts are of varying lengths but the agreement covers the next three seasons and it includes two players who will shortly go on maternity leave. Two further contracts will be announced later in the year.

“This is a hugely exciting time for the Red Roses, especially with our home World Cup on the horizon in 2025,” RFU head of women’s performance Charlie Hayter said.

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“However, we know there is a lot of work to do before then and we are excited to bring the group together shortly to start preparations for WXV which will be the immediate focus for us all.”

Contracted players: H Aitchison (Bristol), Z Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), S Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury), S Bern (Bristol), H Botterman (Bristol), J Breach (Saracens), M Carson (TBC), P Cleall (Saracens), K Clifford (Saracens), A Cokayne (Leicester), V Cornborough (Harlequins), L Davies (Bristol), A Dow (Ealing), R Galligan (Saracens), Z Harrison (Saracens), T Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), M Jones (Leicester), S Kabeya (Loughborough), E Kildunne (Harlequins), A Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), C MacDonald (Exeter), M Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), C O’Donnell (Loughborough), M Talling (Sale), L Packer (Harlequins), M Packer (Saracens), C Powell (Harlequins), A Reed (Bristol), H Rowland (Loughborough), E Scarratt (Loughborough), E Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), A Ward (Bristol).

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Comments

2 Comments
A
AM 720 days ago

A big shock. Lucy Parker had a good start to her career last season but the absence of Leanne Infante and Mo Hunt is inexplicable unless long-term injury is the reason.

N
Nick 741 days ago

What has 'Mo'done so wrong

Sorely missed at the WWC, best player last season, ?

Don't give up Natasha the game needs players like you, not just robots that play to a system

Join free and tell us what you really think!

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P
PM 19 minutes ago
Report card: Ratings all 35 England players from the 2025 July Tests

George had a good tour to showed he is back to his best level.


Heyes did well but shame we didn’t test Fasogbon this tour.


Not sure ENG solved the confusion in the back row, as Underhill probably added to it. Curry, Curry, Pollock & Pepper are likely the go forward open-side options and they need to give games to Pollock & Pepper, so will see in the AI’s. Underhill is better than both but they also need games to develop. It’s 5 good players into 3 or 4 spots.


We need to find the 8 to replace Willis at 60 mins and would like to have seen CC-S used over Dombrandt but will also have Earl & Pollock back, who could fill that last 20 min need.


Will be interesting to see if SB tries Chessum/T Curry/ Willis or sticks with Curry/Curry/Willis with Pollock & Pepper coming off the bench. This feels like the short term future of our back row. Tough on Hill, never felt like he has been given a chance and too many wasted caps on Dombrandt at the expense of CC-S.


Not sure why Quirke was not selected, scrum half is still an issue and whilst Spencer did his best in an England shirt, JvP & Quirke have time on their side, whereas Spencer is not getting any younger. feels like a wasted opportunity at 9 and hard to see how we test them all when Mitchell returns as starter.


Atkinson was the big success, just hope they don’t pick Farrell at 12 and delay Atkinson’s development, he needs game time, which will be a challenge if Farrell returns.


Back 3 feels like Furbank, Freeman & IF-W but Carpenter, Roebuck & Hendy adds strength in depth to that back 3 and will be interesting to see how quickly Lee Blackett gets Arundell back to his best at Bath.


Some big selection decisions for Steve Borthwick, which he occasionally struggles making at this level (Mitchell, Willis etc). Interesting few months ahead but certainly heading in the right direction.

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